I feel like I’m being a bit cheeky today as I’m nipping in with another post that I want you to join in with. My thinking was that if you’re out and about this weekend buying herb seeds then you could also pick up some seed potatoes and grow you own tatties!
Last year we grew three varieties of potatoes in bags, they are the ones you see above. If you have a limited amount of space then you may like to do this. Click here for a how – to.
But this year we’re going a bit larger and growing five varieties of potatoes in the raised beds in the paddock.
The five varieties of potatoes we are planting are Lady Christl, Kestrel, Desiree, Maris Piper and Charlotte.
- Lady Christl is a First Early (new potato) and is a waxy type. Great for Spring & early Summer salads.
- Kestral is a Second Early variety which will be ready to dig up around the month of July or we can lift them a tiny bit earlier if the Lady Christl have all been used.
- Desiree is what is known as a Maincrop potato. It is red skinned and is very good for using in cooking, with chips and potato wedges being a very popular way to use this potato. Great for bbq’s and cook out’s in the Summer.
- Maris Piper is another Maincrop potato and is the variety that I buy the most. I think it’s because I once heard Heston Blumenthal say that it was the best for all sorts of dishes. It is a floury potato and large. Great for baking and roasting.
- Charlotte is another salad potato and if you’re thinking of growing in bags then this is a great one to grow.
It is always a good idea to buy your seed potatoes from a reputable supplier or garden centre as they will usually be grown in conditions necessary to ensure that the seed is healthy and free from pests and diseases. Giving you the best possible results, which should be lots and lots of wonderful & tasty potatoes.
OK, first things first. When you have your seed potatoes in front of you it is best to ‘Chit’ them before they go in to the bag or the ground. To chit basically means that you are allowing the sprouts to grow a bit more before plunging them in the darkness of the soil. You’re giving them a head start and although it’s not essential to do this it does help a great deal.
Can you tell the sun was out yesterday when I took this picture?
Sorry, I’m getting distracted.
When you first purchase the potatoes it is likely you will see that the potatoes have very tiny little eyes / buds on them, the potatoes should be placed into a seed tray (or egg shells) with the buds facing upwards for them to chit. An example of a good chit is firm and green and one that will not knock off the potato easily.
Chitting conditions should be in a cool place but frost free with maximum available exposure to sunlight.
And as soon as they are ready to move on to the next stage I’ll write a further post explaining it all. I wanted to give you this head start for the weekend.
I can only urge you to grow your own potatoes. My dad grew them for us when we were younger and my one abiding memory of them is that they tasted so potatoey. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous but it’s true. They were so full of flavour that I think I was spoiled for anything else. They will also keep me in a great base for all the dishes I am currently making for the twins.
I was really pleased, REALLY pleased to see so many of you wanting to join me in growing herbs yesterday. I’d like to do it with you and we can chat about it in the comments section. So please feel free to join me in my potato journey also. I think that we’ll come up against some issues when growing them in the raised beds that we didn’t have when growing them in the bags. But we’ll see. It’s exciting all the same.
As the pictures of the potatoes were really kinda boring and dull I thought I’d leave you for the weekend with some scenes from my garden that I took this morning. I don’t meditate formally but when I was out this morning snapping away in the early morning with the grass making my feet wet I felt more alive than I had in ages. The air cleaned out my lungs and the quiet was good for my soul. Even if it was only for five minutes.
Do consider joining me and the others in growing herbs and potatoes this year.
It would be nice to do a post full of pictures of your successes. I’ll post them here on my website.
And perhaps we can share what we’ve cooked and eaten from what we’ve grown?
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.
But that would be nice I think. It’ll all feel less like me writing out in to a vacuum then.
Yes?
Whaddaya say?
Shall we plant, grow, cook and eat together? Then I’ll feel like I’m one step closer to having you all round for a garden party.
I love you, have a fantastic weekend and I’ll see you Monday.
Cherry x
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Cherry you inspired me with the garlic post! I got garlic, shallots, potato and mushrooms at the garden centre along with lots of seeds for carrots, spring onions, butternut squash and salad. I can’t wait to get my children in the garden growing their own food (i stand a better chance of getting them to eat the food if they see it being grown!). Seeing Sarah’s coments about sweet potatoes i think i will be having ago with those too!
Oh absolutely I would love to join in the garden party fun! We have been a little busy and forgetful lately so we have only just got around to placing our enormous and oh so exciting order with Dobies, but hey it is better late than never! This is our third year of growing our own and we cannot wait to begin this years gardening adventure.
Happy Sunday!
Morwenna
xo
COUNT ME IN!
I grew 3 bags of potatoes last year, with varying success; they were sante, charlotte and another for the life of me I can’t remember queen something I think. It was like digging for buried treasure and my daughter loved it, proudly bringing in earth and potatoes to show off her find! They were like little nuggets of pure gold and the skins so thin they really looked pale gold..beautiful.
I found some ‘Catriona’ ptoatoes this year at Longacres so I had to buy those and my little CH couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw them. They are currently chitting in our egg box. I’ve never really worked out the whole early, main, late thing… can you help with that?
I’m also in for the herb growing too. I’ve currently got purple sage (not eaten any yet – any suggestions?) and some thyme growing away and ready to cut. Will be planning on getting some coriander, basil and possibly my new favourite herb lemon thyme. Will see if I can source something else I’ve not tried before.
Good luck to everyone, especially Clairey – Spud Queen extraordinaire!
K xx
Sounds wonderful! Year round and around the world!
I have a tiny back garden in my little house that i rent with my fiance. We have turned inch of space over to veg. We have a wee poly tunnel on the patio, pots on every available surface, and are sticking veg in every bed between all our hyacinths and tulips which are now poking there heads out. We’re growing potatoes in bins and herbs in holey bucket!
x
Hi Cherry,
Inspired by your post last year I decided to grow potatoes (in bags) this year for the first time. I have already got my 2 varieties (an early and a late) and they are chitting but today I was excited by an email from Suttons suggesting sweet potato potted plants. I had never seen the foliage before and now I really want to try growing sweet potatoes as well. . . .if only I had more space and more time!
My favorite potato is the Charlotte. Sweet, Delicious and Perfect in a salad.
Enjoy.
Melissa from New York
Cherry,
A work colleague passed me the link to your website and my my is it cute. England looks so beautiful. I live in Austin in Texas, currently about 21c. I love the British Seasons and look forward to reading your gardening Posts over the coming months.
Your new fan, Judith Steiner. TX
Hey Cherry,
When are you going to write a book. You must write one and then come over to the US. You will go down a storm over the pond.
Best,
Martha (NY)
I wish you would have us all round for a garden party. I’d love to visit your home. Any chance of you opening to the public? And when is your book coming out! Yes I’ll grow potatoes. I have to do something with my big garden, Why not indeed.
Oooooo, I’m in! Fab idea to do it together. Herbs, potatoes and lots of lovely flowers, inspired by your gorgeous photos ..thanks, Cherry. (Hoping to have more success in the garden than last year, when we fostered a stray mummy dog and the 10 puppies she gave birth to at our house …there was masses of fun and rampaging out there and the garden crops had not a hope! I remember one baby dog running around at full speed, very proudly carrying my little pumpkin and its stalk in his mouth, showing off his find to all of his buddies…aw, happy memories.)
You’re certainly not posting out into the ether, Cherry …here is an echo coming right back at you from British Columbia… a beautiful bright, cold day on Vancouver Island … thanking you for your just DELICIOUS site and your hard work on our behalf … love, love, love. Deb x
I just discovered your blog and I LOVE it!
I know what you mean about home grown potatoes being more “potatoey”. It’s the same with herbs and home grown tomatoes and fruit. The best peaches I ever ate were home grown peaches plucked right from the tree and sold at a roadside stand. YUM!
Regarding gardening, I’m game to grow potatoes and herbs! Sadly, I’m not the best at gardening but can usually produce a good crop of herbs. I plan to try potatoes and tomatoes this year along with herbs. It will be a little while before I can plant anything because we keep getting snow and very cold temperatures!
You really have Primroses out already ? I sooo miss England in the late Winter / Spring. I need to find a way to recreate the English spring garden in my garden here in the states
I’d love to have success with growing potatoes! The naughty adorable gray squirrels constantly dig up the potatoes we plant. “We” meaning my husband and granddaughters. The most success I had was planting a sweet potato that had gone wild in my cupboard. It was so pretty I stuck it in the ground. Lo and behold it produced several potatoes. I’m going on a crusade right now to hunt down different seed potatoes. We don’t have the selection in grocery stores you have in the UK. How exciting! I never tire of potatoes.
ah, i would love to grow potatoes vicariously through you this year. i always grow them in bags but have decided to stop from now on as my garden is wee and faces north – albeit facing the lovely battersea park – so my potatoes use all their energy to shoot right up in search of sun and only produce tiny little spuds. this was my entire crop from last summer’s chitting, planting and tending with additional pea-sized carrots thrown in! so, yes, i’ll be watching along with your potato adventure this year and getting mine from the farmers’ market.
please, i’d love to join in. Already have my spuds chitting in an egg box, and doing ok. Ours go in a large pot, it’s just like digging for gold when the time comes.
And they taste so good. really potatoey!(which sounds stupid, but it oh so true).
have a glorious weekend
x
Last year I grew Pink Fir Apple and they were super scrummy. Will definitely be growing them again with Rooster and Duke of York.
Also have a club at school where we enter a national potato growing competition – maybe this year will be our year of victory! I am the Spud Queen and my members are Spudettes!
I tried to grow four types of potatoes in bags last year and despite lots of efforts and great excitement, the grand unveiling yielded precisely the same number of potatoes as we had put in the bags in the first place!! I will have a think about this one, but may be tempted to try again but just with Charlottes this time.
Was looking at the Duchy seeds online to buy though this morning and thanks to your previous post and getting inspired to actually open and go through my back door into the mess beyond to get started!
Would love to join in with the growing, showing and cooking – love your blog and enjoy your posts every day.
Kate x
I know what you mean about the feeling of meditation. At the moment I take ten minutes time out every morning while I pick berries for my 13 month old and 3 year old boys. It’s only ten minutes, but the early sunshine and fresh air is just enough to take a moment, appreciate and recharge. And picking fresh fruit for the boys reminds me that everything we do in the garden is worth it!